It won't be over even when it's over

Of all the wishful thoughts uttered about President Clinton's December impeachment and current Senate trial, perhaps the most wishful -- and least likely of coming true -- is this: "Once this has been decided, we can forget about it and go on to other matters."

Through a year's worth of lies, evasions and hair-splitting sophistries, the impeached President hasn't hesitated at every step to mire America in discussions about his sexual misdemeanors and subsequent prevarications, an effort that has derailed the nation from taking on other business.

That's one of the reasons we called for his resignation last September; it would be the step an honorable man would take in such circumstances to reflect his shame, to protect his family and to redirect his country.

President Clinton's refusal to resign means the rest of us have to resign ourselves to dealing with his problems, a task that will continue no matter what the Senate decides. Convict him, and his defenders will cry, "Unfair." One need only listen to James Carville for a preview of that noisy future. Censure him, and he will declare victory, leading his opponents to declare, "Here we go again." One need only realize that Ken Starr is still at work to peek into that future. Keep him in office, and everyone will wait for the next shoe (or dress) to drop, or for the next lie to be told. Public opinion polls have consistently noted that the vast majority of Americans already believe their President has committed perjury, a belief they will not easily lay aside when he speaks to them on other matters.

There is, in the end, no getting away from this impeached president's unchecked libido or his life-long tendency to twist the truth. One need only look at the reaction to his bombing of Iraq to see how his every move will be suspect if he remains in office. In short, as long as Mr. Clinton is president, we will not "get this behind us," as the wishful thinkers say.

(01-14-99) [[In-content Ad]]